Ammunition



Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES comm, mo, aconrom'rroiv or DELAWARE m mmy.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to priming mix-' tures for ammunition, and particularly to priming mixtures of the non-corrosive type, such mixtures being characterized by the absence of any ingredients which leave hygroscopic residues in the gun bore, thereby promoting corrosion and rusting of the bore.

A few such mixtures are known atzthis time and owing to their highly desirable non-corrosive properties they have largely displaced the older corrosive mixtures.

The function of a priming mixture being to supply a flame of suflicient intensity and heat to ignite propellant powder, the priming compositions include two essential ingree dients; first, a fuel or substance to be burned, and second, an oxidizer to furnish oxygen for the combustion of the fuel. A third ingredient, however, is 'quite universally used, the function of which, stated in very general terms, is to initiate the reaction between the oxidizer and the fuel; thus, its essential characteristic is that it react under the stimulus of a blow to produce suflicient flame and/or heat to start the combustion of the fuel by the oxidizer. As such a combustion initiator mercury fulminate has been very extensively used for a long period of time. Mercury fulminate, however, is undesirable for several reasons. It is expensive and dangerous to manufacture, and great dfiiculty isv encountered in securing a product of uniform quality. Indeed the variation in the quality of different lots of mercury fulminate has but recently been fully recognized, and it is now thought to be responsible for variations in quality of different lots of ammunition which have hitherto been considered inevitable and unexplainable. Further, mercury fulminate is of a poisonous character and injurious to the health of the workmen who handle it or priming mixtures containing it. Further, it

amalgamates with the metal of cartridge cases and primer cups rendering it incapable of use in primer cups and (rim fire) shells of such alloys as brass, which are otherwise highly desirable for this purpose.

The present invention contemplates a priming mixture which is not only non-corrosive but in which undesirable mercury ful- Application filed August 27,1930. Serial 1%.. 47s,294.

non-poisonous and easily handle an permit the use for primer cups and rim fire shells of metals and alloys, such as brass, which are attacked by mercury fulminate. It has been discovered that .by'the use of a mixture of two explosive or anic materials, neitherof which is by itse f entirely suit able for this purpose, a very effective combustion initiator for primers is secured.

Certain organic nltro compounds have been proposed as substitutes for mercury fulminate, and used with a measure of success, particularly in detonators, in which a detonation producing shock rather than a combua tion initiating flame is desired. It has now been discovered that greatly improved combustion initiation is secured by the use together of two different organic nitro com pounds, such for example as a nitrated uinone-di-azide and a metallic salt of one o the .nitro derivatives of resorcine. More particularly, a very desirable combustion initiator comprises the 4-6-dinitro-quinone-2-diazide, C H N O frequently called diazodinitrophenol; and the normal lead salt of trinitroresorcinol, C H(NO 502Pb. These materials may be used in conjunction with one or,

more oxidizers, such as barium nitrate, lead nitrate, lead peroxide, etc.; and one or more fuels, such as lead sulphocyanate, antimony sulphide and calcium silicide. Typical mixtures are minate has been replaced by materials which, I while fullyefiicient as combustion initiators, can be safely made of uniform, ualit ,are

Per Per Per cent cent cent Diazodinitrophenol '2 4 6 Lead trinitroresorcinate 40 40 38 Lead nitrate 30. 30 3O Leadsulphocyanate 8' 7 7 Glass 2O 18 18 Gum 1 1 The glass may be omitted if the fuel or the characteristics of a particular cartridge ren-,

der it unnecessary.

Applicant being the first to utilize an admixture of materials of the type set forth as a combustion initiator, the appended claims are to be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:

1 dinit 5 dinitrophenol, lead trinitroresorcinate, an

oxidizer, and a fuel.

3. A priming mixture comprising diazodinibrophenol. lead trinitroresorcinate, lead nitrate, and lead sulphocyanate.

o 4. A priming mixture comprising substantially:

Percent Diazodinitrophenol approximately 6 Lead trinitroresorcinatm 38 5 Lead nit-rate 30 Lead sulphocyanate 7 Glass -1 18 Gum 1 20 JAMES E. BURNS. 

